Item Detail
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17303
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0
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0
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English
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Journal of George Barber, 1902-1932
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N.p.
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Echo Barber Ellis
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April 21, 1902 to February 3, 1932. Newly returned from a mission, Barber commences his diary. He keeps careful track of his health, the weather, visits paid or received, church activities, and his employment. Barber marries, moves into a Salt Lake City home, and begins reporting family and neighborhood news. He is called as a block teacher, spending countless hours administering to the sick in his ward and discussing the Gospel with nonmembers. As he ages, Barber records the birth and progression of his six children, holiday celebrations, moves, and quarantines for common childhood illnesses. The family's health is precarious as Barber suffers a small stroke, a daughter nearly dies from septicemia, a son fractures his skull while sledding, two children have hernia operations, and a second daughter becomes gravely ill from dysentery. His wife's health is particularly poor, as she suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, gallstones, intestinal blockages, and comes very close to dying following childbirthtwice. Barber is employed by ZCMI, but often sells door-to-door on the side. The family also enjoys leisure activities, particularly baseball, boxing, and movies. Later, the family enjoys listening to their gramophone and radio. In 1916, Barber attends prohibition rallies and speeches. He writes very little about World War I, noting an occasional pledge or send-off for a local soldier. He does attend Woodrow Wilson's speech promoting the League of Nations, which wins him over. The 1918 Flu / influenza Pandemic receives much attention, with public meetings (including church) suspended. The situation worsens, and all of Barber's family takes ill. His immediate family survives, but many friends and relatives do not. He takes part in a special Fast Day called by the Church for relief. Finally, after five months, Barber writes that meetings resume. He finds himself in deep debt and his house is foreclosed on. He persuades ZCMI's directors to bid on the house at auction. They then turn the house over to Barber and raise his wages. His children grow up and marry, having grandchildren on whom Barber dotes. He is called as a temple worker, bringing him much satisfaction. The divorce of his oldest son and series of mild strokes temper his joy. He is forced by his health to quit ZCMI. Barber is set apart as a sealer, and spends his remaining time working in the Salt Lake Temple. A publisher's postscript states that Barber's strokes increase in severity after the diary ends, ultimately killing him. Themes present throughout the diary include genealogical work and the Church's efforts to deal with those who refuse to abandon plural marriage.